es

aromas of wild herbs, dry brush, rubber, oak and berry fruits come prior to a pointed palate with high acidity and choppy tannins. flavors of creamy oak support racier currant and red-plum notes, while this carignan-garnacha-syrah blend tastes oaky, spicy and thorough on the finish. drink through 2021.

us

tart, young and focused, this brings cranberry and black cherry fruit forward, with a lively, spicy mouthfeel. flavors are battened down with bracing acidity and firm tannins. give this an hour or more of breathing time, or decant.

cl

orange and lime aromas control the nose on this spritzy, tangy wine that literally shows bubbles in the glass. the flavors are lemony and sharp, with a grassy accent. tasted twice.

de

in a departure from mosel stereotypes, this wine is missing the floral fragrance and vivacity so typical of the region. but it remains impressive, offering plenty of concentration and density, hugely mineral aromas and flavors that call to mind molten rocks and even an oily texture and viscous finish. how it will age is impossible to predict, so drink it over the next 2–3 years.

it

juicy, structured and delicious, this full-bodied wine doles out ripe blackberry, crushed raspberry, red cherry, white pepper, clove and licorice. racy acidity and fine-grained tannins provide support.

ar

lime and mango aromas stick out on an otherwise neutral, crisp bouquet. this is lean and well cut, with refreshing citric acidity. flavors of pineapple, lime and green apple finish with zest and continuity. drink now.

us

this 100% varietal wine is unabashedly appealing with pure, direct notes of coffee and plum. it's the feel that truly dazzles, with a supple velvety texture and a tart uptick on the lingering finish.

us

smashed concord grapes, lavender and more purple flower aromas make for a very purple-leaning nose on this bottling from the hot stretches of southern monterey county. the flavors are also quite violet-like, with lavender, jasmine, black plum, olallieberry, plum blossoms, and dill, altogether quite elegant with a relatively light touch.

es

a purple, saturated, well-oaked, muscular wine with heavy, dark fruit and hickory aromas. forceful and saturated on the palate, with big blackberry flavors blanketed by powerful oak. dark and smoky on the finish, with intensity and thick legs.

it

this barrique-aged chardonnay tastes a bit too much of barrique, with toasty, cinnamon and vanilla flavors dominating the underlying melon and peach fruit. it's sexy wood, but it's just too prominent; tone down the makeup and let this beauty's natural good looks shine through.

us

vibrant lemon and tangerine acidity freshens savory tones of pressed apples and nuts in this slightly rustic earthy riesling. it's dry on the palate and finishes briskly.

england

this wine brims with fruit and freshness. a host of apple notions comes alive on nose and palate: the appetizing, ripe tartness of cox orange pippin, the mouthwatering crispness of granny smith and the mellowness of golden delicous. it has a refreshing, open honesty, juicy and totally inviting. underneath all that allure lies rich autolysis, underlined by a fine, creamy mousse. flavors and freshness linger.

es

dusty berry and plum aromas register as fresh but simple. this is similar on the palate: fresh and fruity, but not too serious. flavors of plum and cherry are raw and drawing, while the finish sports supportive juicy acidity.

es

at first, this black-colored garnacha smells horsey and reduced, but with time it exudes more aromatic harmony and quality. a big tannic palate is rough like sandpaper. blackberry, pepper and chocolate flavors don't rise to a level of excellence, while a heavy saturated finish closes out this muscular red.

lb

a blend of cinsault, grenache and syrah, this salmon-colored rosé from lb is dominated both on the nose and palate by a green, herbaceous oak character. it's a dry, medium-bodied wine with faint and dusty strawberry and raspberry flavors in the backdrop, but overall, a disjointed, clumsy sip.

us

a very distinctive chard—full of character and even eccentricity. there are strong, up-front aromas of tangerines, vanilla, butterscotch, smoke, ripe peaches and caramel. it's especially notable for the thick, creamy texture and a penetrating, spicy clove note that follows through on the long, rich finish. a complex, serious wine.

fr

a dry wine with firm tannins over the juicy red-cherry fruits. it is structured, while likely to develop well over the next few years. the wood and fruit are both attractive at this stage.

fr

ripe, with a fine texture, this full wine still young, developing its fruit element while maintaining texture and minerality. drink this crisply fruity wine from 2017.

us

this is made from 80% chardonnay and 20% pinot gris. it offers an impressive commingling of preserved lemon, burnt orange peel and apricot, meeting crisp acidity and floral undertones along the way. light and bright, it's a food-friendly option, as well as good go-to solo.

us

this is a simple blend of cabernet sauvignon and malbec mostly, that's lively and slightly spritzy. strawberry, cranberry and cassis appear, as walls of dry tannins spark on the finish.